Anyone using "Freedom"?

I don't use Freedom, but I do have a couple of techniques to keep online time in check. Unlike Freedom, all of these techniques are gratis.

One is technique is to block my favourite time-sink websites in the hosts file. It's easy to circumvent, but I find that a token barrier is usually enough to remind me to keep my behaviours in check.

When work is involved, I'll break my time up into blocks: work for two 15 minute blocks, take one fifteen minute block as a break. I've found that it's far too easier to concentrate on work when I know that I won't be doing the same thing for a five hour stretch.

When a lot of seat-work is involved, I'll simply go to a university library. Since I'm not a member of the university, I don't have internet access. When there isn't a university nearby, I'll just head out into the bush. (In other words, anywhere quiet and without an electronic tether.)

By the way, never believe the discipline/will-power crowd. I've found that a great many of them spend as much time wasting time as those without discipline/will-power. They simply don't see it as a problem. (They either have different priorities so it isn't a problem for them, or they refuse to acknowledge that it is a problem for them.)

[DiapDealer]

By the way, never believe the people who say "never believe the discipline/willpower crowd."

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

By the way, never believe the discipline/will-power crowd. I've found that a great many of them spend as much time wasting time as those without discipline/will-power. They simply don't see it as a problem. (They either have different priorities so it isn't a problem for them, or they refuse to acknowledge that it is a problem for them.)

That's baloney. If I have work to do, be it in or around the house, at work, or on the computer, I'm not on the internet apart from an occasional break.

And no, that break doesn't take an hour. It doesn't even take 33% of the time, like yours do.

Granted, there are days that I have nothing to do and spend half the day on the internet, but I don't see that as being worse than watching TV, movies, or reading a book. If there's nothing important to do, spending the time on the internet is as good as any hobby. IMHO. I can't complain, having 38 hobbies or so. (My problem is that I'm basically interested in too many things, so I won't become really good at anything.)

[AJ Starr]

I have my router plugged into a flip switch. If I ever needed to kill my internet access, I'd just flip the power off to it.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

P.S. Anybody else got that George Michael song stuck in their head now?

"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go?" No, why?

Originally Posted by forsooth

disconnect and put modem or router in plastic zip lock bag into freezer!
reduces temptation

Condensation kills!

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Indeed.... You need discipline, not software.

With all due respect to all the will-power/discipline crowd, that's self-righteous, arrogant, unhelpful and displaying a serious ignarance (or disregard) for differences in personality and human nature.
The search for tools to self-help with these things is a good thing.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by ApK

With all due respect to all the will-power/discipline crowd, that's self-righteous, arrogant, unhelpful and displaying a serious ignarance (or disregard) for differences in personality and human nature.
The search for tools to self-help with these things is a good thing.

Still, it will be the only true solution in the end. Maybe some tool can help to kickstart it; nothing wrong with that.

[hidari]

I DO NOT need the internet. I am never on it...I only Read MR 12 hours a day..... I do not have an internet problem. I do not check my email 12 times a day. I do not look for ereader news updates every week. I do not need a 12 step program. I only read 333 hours on my ebook reader a week. I am free from the Internet. i control my ebook reading... Alex does NOT control me. I don not live in Switzerland. I do not....

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

Still, it will be the only true solution in the end. Maybe some tool can help to kickstart it; nothing wrong with that.

Heck I went to a dojo and paid money monthly to try to learn it.

Originally Posted by hidari

I do not need a 12 step program

I can't remember what comic said people addicted to line dancing should join a two-step program.

[hidari]

Where's my bottle of Vodka????? I can control everything...

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by ApK

With all due respect to all the will-power/discipline crowd, that's self-righteous, arrogant, unhelpful and displaying a serious ignarance (or disregard) for differences in personality and human nature.
The search for tools to self-help with these things is a good thing.

I don't entirely disagree, but I'd preface that with saying that I see nothing wrong with discouraging someone from immediately jumping directly to the "there's a pill you can take/app you can download to fix that issue FOR you" solution. How do we know we can't train ourselves to change our own (self-percieved) "destructive" behavior if we always reach for the magic button first?

And sorry... but PAYING someone to make it more difficult to use a service you're already paying someone ELSE for is downright silly no matter how you slice it. Cancel your internet service or use the myriad of free distractions/discouragements available.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by hidari

I do not have an internet problem. I do not check my email 12 times a day.

So, if I open my email when I get in to work, read each mail when I notice it, and close my email just before I leave for the day, is that checking my email 1 time a day or 50 times a day?

[hidari]

Aye...... ehmmmmmm Sarcasm..... assuming the same on your part....

[ApK]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

And sorry... but PAYING someone to make it more difficult to use a service you're already paying someone ELSE for is downright silly no matter how you slice it.

Well, it sounds silly when you put it that way, but you could make the same argument for any gym membership. "Can't you walk up and down stairs, ride a bike and lift something heavy at home for free--maybe even get somewhere you need to go and get some manual labor done in the process?"

The presumptive answer for many folks is "No, we can't. We tried. We need help."

So perhaps rather than a first response of "suck it up and use willpower!" a first response might be:
"Have you tried sucking it up and using will power yet? I mean really, honestly?"

And also, while, sure, it would be good to develop discipline and will power on your own, using tools to aid you in a task is not exactly the same as wanting a magic pill to alter your mood or lose weight, etc.

ApK

[hidari]

Actually I run about 140km to 200km a month outside and I go to the gym....your correlation might work for some but not others...different people have different addictions and everyone is suspect to the temptation of their particular weakness. Willpower alone will not do it....

[ApK]

Originally Posted by hidari

different people have different addictions and everyone is suspect to the temptation of their particular weakness. Willpower alone will not do it....

Prezactly!